On January 26, 2011, David Kato was beaten to death in his home. David Kato was an incredibly important and powerful voice for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Uganda, throughout Africa and across the world. Shortly before his death, he and his colleagues had won a court case against a prominent Ugandan newspaper. The court condemned the paper for publishing the pictures, names and addresses of LGBT people in Uganda alongside hateful captions and calls to violence.

We have set up the David Kato Fundraising Campaign in response to his murder and in order to support his fellow activists in Uganda. We want to ensure that his name is remembered, that his colleagues can continue their important work in Uganda, and that other LGBT people who are at risk of being killed can find protection.

This is why we aim, together with your help, to raise a total of £10,000 (about US $16,000) and to organise talks and other events in order to raise awareness.

The remaining £5,000 will be used to support LGBT refugees from Africa who are forced to flee their home countries because of persecution, violence and threats to their lives. We are working with charitable organisations that have experience in providing specialised support to such LGBT refugees. They will help us ensure that the funds are allocated appropriately – maximising the effect they have on the lives of the individuals in question, while making sure that they are kept safe and that their identities are protected.

This campaign has the official endorsement of Sexual Minorities Uganda. All the people involved in this fundraising campaign are volunteers, and none of the donations are used for any kind of campaign expenses.

David in conversation with Dr Andy Tucker (Deputy Director, University of Cambridge Centre for Gender Studies) on the current life threatening situation faced by sexual minority groups in Uganda and the continued struggle for sexuality-based rights, February 2010.